McHolme wins match play title, 3 & 2
Angus McHolme and Danae Rugola both advanced to the championship of the C.R. Miller Match Play Invitational Tuesday at the Rolling Rock Club, and McHolme won a tight match for the title and Rugola lost in a playoff.
McHolme defeated Luke Minsky, 3 & 2, in the championship match.
“I played well. I got a couple putts to fall early,” said McHolme.
The Elizabeth Forward senior trailed by a hole entering No. 5, but pulled to All Square with a birdie-2, and then moved into the lead on the next hole with a par.
He was up one hole at the turn.
Minsky tied the match with a par on No. 10, but McHolme moved into the lead for good with a bogey-6 on No. 12. He doubled his lead with a par on No. 13 and won the match with a par on No. 16.
“I hit one of the best 2-irons in my life on No. 16,” said McHolme. “I hit everything really solid. My distance control on wedges was nice.”
McHolme opened play Monday with an 8 & 7 win over Shane Kelley. He edged Chris Sabol, 2 & 1, later in the day in the quarterfinals.
He opened play Tuesday with a 1 up win over Neal Shipley.
“I played Steady Eddy. Don’t give any holes away. That’s the key,” said McHolme. “I lost nine holes in the whole tournament and only two were my mistakes.
“I didn’t give anything away.”
McHolme is set now as he enters his final high school season.
“It’s a good feather in my cap,” said McHolme.
Rugola halved the final with Wexford’s Caroline Wrigley, but the North Allegheny senior won on the second playoff hole.
Rugola had the opportunity to win on the final hole, but the Uniontown senior couldn’t get her putt to fall.
“I had a seven-foot putt and missed it. If I made it, I would’ve won,” said Rugola.
Both golfers parred the first sudden-death playoff hole. Rugola had a 10-foot putt for birdie on the second playoff hole.
“I had a short putt, but the greens are so fast. I missed it and she made hers for birdie,” said Rugola. “It was very disappointing.”
The final match went back and forth with neither golfer holding more than a two-hole advantage.
Wrigley led by two holes at the turn, but Rugola drew to All Square on No. 11. Wrigley won No. 12, but Rugola tied the match on No. 13.
Wrigley held one-hole leads on Nos. 14 and 16, but Rugola rallied both times to tie the match to set up her chance for victory on the final hole.
The final regulation hole and the playoff holes were played in rain.
“It was fine until the last round. It started sprinkling on No. 17. It was a downpour on the playoff hole,” said Rugola.
Rugola opened the inaugural Girls’ Match Play Invitational at the Rolling Rock Club with a 6 & 5 win in the quarterfinals over Bullskin Township’s Ella Zambruno.
Rugola edged Jessica Meyers in the semifinals, 1 up.
“We played all 18 holes. It was back and forth. I was up, she was up. Finally, we were all square,” said Rugola. “I was 1 up on the 16th hole and we both parred the last two holes.”
Rugola said her first match play tournament was a learning experience.
“I need to play more often, to think about what I’m doing completely different,” Rugola said of match play. “I have to think way different than stroke play. I have to be more aggressive.”
Abby Zambruno lost in the quarterfinals to Vileska Gelpi, 2 up, and Meghan Zambruno was defeated by Meyers, 3 & 2.
Rugola returns to the course Thursday for the opening round of her second Fayette County Open.
“I’m looking to win. This is my year. That’s my goal,” said Rugola.